How do you keep your white clothes looking really white?

I know this sounds really stupid but we have just moved into our first home together so not hugely experienced on using a washing machine . I've noticed a few of LOs white tshirts starting to look faded and her white socks never come out of the machine looking sparkling white. MIl also made a comment to OH last week that i was ruining LOs clothes and they were all going grey . I wash white clothes and coloured clothes seperately using fairy tabelts and fabric softner (LO is allergic to bio products) usually on a 40-60'C cottons wash, what am i doing wrong??

Oh yes, the dreaded grey whites If you wash it all seperately then Im not sure what the problem is, but Im no domestic expert, I just wash it and hope for the best really Just sit and wait and hope a red sock hasnt found its way in

I do however, add a scoop of vanish to most of my white loads. I dont know if it makes a difference, I have to add it really to get the stains out of the boys clothes.

Also, I always wash any of those long sleeve t shirts where the tshirt is say red or blue, and the sleeves are white seperate from anything else or you can guarantee the sleeves will go a grey colour or be tinged with pink or something.

Thanks Emma, I'll get some vanish i think and give it a go. We've just got back from holiday tonight and LO has so many white clothes that are now plastered in food, sand/grass stains, etc, im never going to get them white at this rate!

Does the temperature make much of a difference? Hope LO isnt allergic to vanish!

60 degrees kills all bugs. I use 'real' nappies and they come out sparkling white at this temp. You could soak whites in Napisan (as I do, with nappies) and this is non-bio. Like I said before, line-drying insunlight bleaches anything!!